Create a harmonious apartment living with our top picks for quiet parrots – ideal feathered friends that won't disturb your peace
Exploring parrot🦜 companionship in an apartment🏦?
Well…
Budgerigars (budgies), green-cheeked conures, cockatiels, and parrotlets are charming options that can thrive in smaller living spaces. They are also known for their quieter tendencies, making them best for apartment living.
However, before welcoming a parrot into your apartment, it’s crucial to consider your building’s policies and local regulations.
Check whether your lease agreement or building management allows pets, as some places may have restrictions on birds or specific species.
Additionally, be mindful of noise concerns and potential disturbances to neighbors, and always prioritize responsible ownership to ensure that both you and your feathered friend can coexist harmoniously within the confines of apartment living.
Quietest Apartment Parrots
For apartment living, quieter parrot species are ideal to maintain harmony with neighbors. Cockatiels and Budgies, known for their melodic chirps rather than loud squawks, make excellent choices.
Their vocalizations are generally softer and less disruptive compared to larger parrot species.
However, keep in mind that even the quietest parrot will still make some noise and I recommend keeping you windows and doors closed even with budgies and cockatiels.
Proper training can help minimize unwanted noise.
Discussed below are the top 7 quietest parrots, best for apartment living.
1 — Budgies
For apartment living, budgies are a favorable choice due to their softer vocalizations. They produce a variety of noises, including cheerful chirps, melodic whistles, and soft cooing, generally moderate in volume, ranging from 60 to 70 decibels.
Budgie vocalizations are considered milder compared to larger parrot species.
The frequency of these sounds can vary depending on the bird’s mood, interaction level, and environmental stimuli.
Regular interaction and socialization will contribute to a quieter and contented bird in the off-chance he becomes too loud.
To further minimize the noise, ensure your budgie’s cage is equipped with toys and activities to keep them engaged and reduce potential boredom-related squawking.
Placing the cage away from shared walls and using soft furnishings like curtains and rugs will help dampen your budgie’s sounds further.
2 — Cockatiels
Cockatiels are quite the vocal virtuosos, showcasing a repertoire of whistles, chirps, and even the occasional mimicry of everyday sounds. The frequency and intensity of their sounds is more than a budgie and make them more noticeable in an apartment setting.
However, the vocal range only reach around 80 to 90 decibels, which is not as vociferous as larger parrot, and barely penetrates apartment walls, especially if the walls are thick or (and) soundproofed.
If your cockatiel leans towards high-pitched whistles, consider redirecting their attention to quieter activities or introducing toys that encourage subdued play.
Strategic cage placement and adding sound-absorbing materials within the environment will further contribute to a more tranquil living space.
3 — Senegal Parrots
Senegal parrots are generally considered suitable for apartment living due to their moderate noise levels.
They produce a variety of sounds, including melodious whistles, chirps, and squawks, which are lower than most parrot species. Sennies are also less prone to loud screaming, making them more manageable even in shared living spaces.
The limited screams and contact calls occur intermittently throughout the day ranging from a few times an hour to less frequently.
The frequency and intensity of Senegal parrot sounds vary based on factors such as mood, interaction, and environmental stimuli, and are generally unlikely to penetrate apartment walls (compared to louder parrot varieties).
Sennie noises typically range from 70 to 90 decibels, which is a tad higher than the 50 to 60 decibles requisite to penetrate most apartment walls.
4 — Pionus Parrot
If you’re looking for a laid-back bird that won’t disrupt your neighbors too much, a Pionus might be the perfect fit.
They are generally quiet apartment birds, barely known for constant noise, which is a big plus in close living quarters.
Even so, Pis might let out a 2 or 3 loud screams a day!
These bursts can be startling, especially since they can travel through walls and doors. Fortunately, the episodes are short-lived, lasting around 10 minutes or less.
Noise levels can vary among different Pionus species, though not too much in White Cap and Blue Headed Pionus, some of the more popular choices.
Keep in mind Pis can be couch potatoes, not overly active or cuddly and only accept head rubs on their terms, much like a cat would.
If this sounds like a good match for your lifestyle, then a Pionus will make a wonderful apartment pet.
5 — Parrotlets
Parrotlets, known for their pint-sized personalities, often raise questions about their noise levels, especially for those considering them as apartment companions.
In my experience, parrotlets exhibit a range of sounds, from delightful chirps to occasional calls. Unlike some parrots that scream persistently, parrotlets tend to vocalize once or not at all throughout the day.
Mornings might greet you with a friendly contact call, and they may express their displeasure at certain sounds, like blow dryers or vacuum cleaners.
Interestingly, their noise levels can also be influenced by their surroundings. If their owners or fellow companions have a loud voice, parrotlets might join in with enthusiasm.
Comparing them to other avian friends, like Quakers, parrotlets generally fall on the quieter end of the spectrum. While they may not be completely silent, their calls are usually manageable and unlikely to disrupt the tranquility of your living space.
The decibel levels are modest, and their sounds are unlikely to penetrate walls, doors, or windows enough to disturb neighbors.
Ultimately, individual personalities play a significant role, and some parrotlets may surprise you with their vocal prowess. However, on the whole, these charming birds are well-suited for apartment living, adding a touch of cheerful noise without crossing the threshold into disturbance.
6 — Meyer’s Parrot
Meyer’s parrots stand out as relatively quiet companions, especially when compared to their more vocal counterparts like Jendays, Sun Conures, and Cockatoos. Unlike these species, they aren’t incessant squawkers.
However, while they emit tolerable sounds, their occasional screeches can penetrate walls, particularly with open windows and doors, but it’s unlikely to draw complaints from neighbors.
Their calls, though audible across hallways, are also infrequent.
Similar to Pionus and P’lets, Meyer’s parrots are influenced by surrounding noises, often mimicking common sounds like sneezes, fire alarms, and laughter, hence more likely to be louder in noisy households.
Compared to dogs, Meyer’s parrot noises don’t persist throughout the day and night. Their occasional vocalizations are more comparable to cockatiels and sennies, making them a suitable choice for apartment living without sacrificing the joys of avian companionship.
To mitigate potential noise issues, providing ample chewing toys is essential. As avid chewers and shredders, these toys keep them occupied and noise levels in check.
7 — Lineolated Parakeet
Apartment living requires consideration of noise levels, making Lioneolated parakeets, or “Linnies,” a potential feathered friend. These petite parrots are notably quieter than some of their larger counterparts, making them suitable for shared living spaces.
Their chirps and contact calls are generally tolerable, and the volume is not high enough to penetrate walls, especially with windows and doors closed.
The are unlikely to disturb neighbors across a hallway and are mostly intermitent, with brief sessions occurring around five times a day. These episodes rarely last more than a few minutes.
In terms of decibels (range of 60 to 70) Lioneolated parakeets register at a low volume, ensuring minimal disruption.
Can You Keep A Parrot in An Apartment (are They Allowed)
Owning a parrot in an apartment can be a rewarding experience, but it comes with its own set of considerations. One of the primary concerns is space. Parrots, known for their vibrant personalities, require room to spread their wings both physically and metaphorically.
In an apartment, where space is often limited, choosing the right parrot species becomes crucial.
Opt for smaller breeds like budgies, GCCs, or cockatiels that are well-suited for apartment living. These birds are not only more manageable in size but also tend to produce less noise compared to larger parrot species.
Noise, undoubtedly, is a major factor to weigh in your decision!
While parrots are renowned for their vocalizations, some species are more inclined to be chatterboxes than others. Resear quieter breeds and even noise reduction strategies like soundproofing to make living with a parrot in an apartment harmonious.
Communicating openly with your landloard and neightbours about your intention to keep a parrot and discussing potential noise concerns will also foster a positive living environment.
Additionally, invest time in parrot training to help minimize disruptive behaviors and keep its noise level down.
Parrots are intelligent creatures that thrive on mental and physical stimulation, so you must prioritize toys, perches, and interactive activities to keep their parrots engaged, happy, and quiet.
As for whether parrots are allowed in apartments, it varies. So, before bringing a parrot home, carefully review the apartment complex’s pet policy.
Some may have restrictions on bird ownership, while others might permit it with certain conditions.
Dealing with Noise When Keeping Parrots in Apartments
The best solution is to get a quiet parrot species as your apartment bird. Volunteer at a shelter and interact with the bird you want to determine whether its noise level is managable.
If you already have the bird, place the cage away from the walls and add sound-absorbing materials within the environment to create a more tranquil living space.
Parrots are influenced by noises in their surronding, and when in a loud household (owners and companion pet), they may tend to be screamy.
Some do not like certain noises, such as blow dryers and vacuum cleaners and get pretty loud around these noises.
Many species are copycats too, and mimic noises, such as laughs, sneezes, and fire alarms, and if these sounds are common and often in your apartment, you birdie might become very noisy trying to mimic the them.
So, to metigate this, you may need to keep your voices and laughs down, ensure there is not plenty of sounds your parrots hates around, and keep your overall environment calm.
That’s all for this post!
See you in the next one!
Happy😁 parrot🦜 parenting!